A Sheriff’s Office Exposed? Major Dale Evans Questions Newsome’s Arrest and a Reserve Deputy Twist

Author Note: for the public records surrounding this article, please reach out to the Wakulla County Sheriff's Office Public Records Custodian. Wakulla Reports has reviewed the records provided by Major Evans but due to potential pending claims, we are unable to share those at this time. All information used for this article, and part 1 are available to the general public upon request. Please use the referenced dates of emails and report ID numbers to narrow your search for the custodian.

In Part 1, Wakulla Reports introduced Major Dale Evans’ allegations of misconduct and retaliation within the Wakulla County Sheriff’s Office (WCSO), spotlighting the 2024 arrests of Commissioner Mike Kemp, Deputy Newsome, and R. Whaley for a doxxing scandal tied to “Thunder Lightening.” Now, in Part 2, we dive deeper into Evans’ claims, exposing a questionable investigation against him, a bombshell revelation that Kemp was a WCSO Reserve Deputy during the incident, and serious question about Newsome’s arrest for sharing information. We ask again: Why was Commissioner Ralph Thomas, who provided key data for the doxxing, never questioned? Wakulla Reports does not endorse the views of Evans or the WCSO; we’re giving this veteran deputy a voice to demand accountability. Backed by emails and a 2017 DOJ report, this story challenges our county’s leadership. Let’s finish unraveling the details.

A “Witch Hunt” Against Evans

In August 2024, Evans faced a WCSO investigation, detailed in report WCSO24OFF002379. On August 25, Captain Surace directed Detective Ormerod to investigate allegations that Evans was improperly sharing information about an Internal Affairs probe into a deputy’s firing for misusing NCIC/FCIC, citing Florida Statute 815 (Florida Computer Crimes Act). Ormerod’s report notes that FS 815, which covers unauthorized computer access or fraud, didn’t apply, as WiFi use alone isn’t a violation. Assistant State Attorney Deneen found no criminal violations, deeming issues administrative. The probe also cited Florida Statute 112.533, ruled unconstitutional in Cooper v. Dillon (2005) for restricting officer speech, undermining its basis.

Evans argues this seemingly frivolous investigation was meant to intimidate him for his 2023 complaints. The report focused on potential HR or legal consequences, not internal affairs details, suggesting a pretext to discipline him. He received a written verbal counseling, which he says damaged his reputation, violating his First Amendment rights (Cooper v. Dillon), Fourth Amendment rights (unlawful subpoenas), and Fourteenth Amendment rights (no due process).

Link to Council of the Inspectors General Quality Standards for Investigations

Ormerod’s Troubled History

Evans questions Ormerod’s credibility, pointing to his time at the Tallahassee Police Department. In 2013, TPD investigated a DUI arrest involving excessive force, as reported by WFSU . The incident led to a 2014 settlement where the City of Tallahassee paid the victim, Christina West, $475,000 to avoid trial. Evans claims this reflects Ormerod’s pattern of producing inaccurate reports, a concern echoed in the 2024 doxxing case and his own investigation, where he believes Ormerod falsified details to target him.

The Reserve Deputy Surprise and Newsome’s Arrest

A critical twist emerged in the 2024 doxxing case. An October 22, 2024, email from Major Deal to Deputy Newsome confirms that Mike Kemp was a WCSO Reserve Deputy during the incident, as verified by HR. Newsome was charged under Florida Statute 815.06(2)(a) for exceeding database authority by providing Kemp with a complainant’s name from a March 28, 2024, traffic incident. Newsome told Deal he believed he was doing a “low-end favor” for Kemp, a fellow law enforcement officer, not violating policy. He also raised concerns that Ormerod’s report falsely claimed “text messages and phone calls” between him and Kemp, which he says don’t exist, suggesting a deliberate effort to mislead the State Attorney and judge.

This raises a burning question: Was Newsome wrongly arrested for sharing information with Kemp, a Reserve Deputy, as part of his job? Reserve Deputies in Wakulla County, per the WCSO website, are sworn officers who meet the same qualifications as full-time deputies, including background checks and training. It’s not uncommon in rural counties for community members, even elected officials, to serve in such roles to bolster resources. However, a commissioner holding this position raises potential conflicts, especially when accessing law enforcement resources for personal or political purposes. If Kemp was authorized to receive the information, Newsome’s actions may have been routine. Why, then, was Newsome charged, and why was Kemp’s Reserve Deputy status not scrutinized? The failure to question Ralph Thomas, who provided the WebElect data that fueled the doxxing, only deepens the suspicion of selective enforcement.

Intimidation Tactics

By 2025, Evans’ fears intensified. On July 16, 2025, he emailed Lamarche, reporting that Ormerod and Sauls drove slowly by his house at 12:45 PM, with no active calls, unsettling his wife. He called it “gangster moves” and sought documentation, receiving only an EAP (employee assistance program) referral. Colonel Johnson responded on July 18, dismissing the complaint, citing Ormerod’s nearby residence. Evans countered that Ormerod’s travel pattern was abnormal and no GPS checks or interviews were conducted, calling the response biased. On August 8, he requested swapping Whaley and Johnson’s positions, citing Whaley’s “vendetta” for exposing his “negligence and criminal misconduct” and closed-door meetings with Ormerod and Surace. On August 10, he reported Ormerod’s parents taking photos of his home, labeling it stalking. HR never responded, deepening his distrust.

Whaley’s Checkered Past

Evans ties Whaley’s actions to a 2017 DOJ OIG report, which criticized Whaley, then DEA Acting Chief Inspector, for improperly overruling a security clearance suspension for an agent who committed serious misconduct. The OIG found Whaley lacked authority and expertise, showing “poor judgment and leadership.” Evans alleges Whaley’s WCSO tenure mirrors this, citing a 2018 incident where Whaley asked the DEA to overlook excessive overtime by two detectives and a 2024 threat: “Be careful, you’re on DROP now.” Evans also claims Whaley dismissed a colleague’s transfer with, “FDLE can’t bail you out this time.”

A Personal Toll

Evans says the stress of retaliation, compounded by a Parkinson’s diagnosis, forced him into the DROP program on July 1, 2024, costing him over $1 million in retirement benefits. He required medication and an ADA accommodation for fatigue. He alleges a coworker suggested he be fired as a “liability” due to his condition, deepening his sense of persecution. Evans claims Miller and Whaley lead a “personal hit squad” with several others joining forces, targeting critics like Kemp, Newsome, and himself. He’s reported issues to FDLE, the Florida Ethics Commission, and the State Attorney’s Office, but no public action has yet emerged.

Link to Part 2